A SHARP rise in new daily COVID-19 infections the past week is to have been expected this holiday period, Grampians Public Health Unit medical director Rosemary Aldrich has made clear.
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This city has been buffered from high cases numbers to an extent, compared to other regions, due to high vaccination rates and community compliance, Professor Aldrich said.
But now the public health team and Ballarat Health Services want people to stay calm and be prepared for the chance they would contract COVID-19.
Rules are changing with the prime minister slashing isolation periods with a stronger nation-wide reliance on rapid antigen tests, which have fast become elusive to buy.
Ballarat Health Services is urging people to get a COVID-19 booster when eligible, especially to protect against the Omicron strain, and stick to public health measures such as socialising outdoors, masks, hand hygiene and physical distancing. Avoiding large events can also help.
If you or someone in your household becomes unwell you will need to quarantine. As it stands, this will be for at least seven days and after producing a negative rapid antigen test result on day six.
Ballarat Health Services' advice to stay calm and prepare for COVID-19
Stock your pantry with enough food for 7-14 days
- Choose foods that have a long shelf-life
- If you have a freezer, keep it stocked with bread, and single-serve meals ready for the microwave.
- Include things the family likes when they are sick (soup, crackers, icy-poles)
- Fluids are important so consider water, hydration fluids, and ice cubes.
- If you have pets, stock up on what they need.
Have enough medication on hand
- Make sure you have a stock of prescription medications and your script readily available.
- Check your supply of non-prescription medication such as paracetamol and throat lozenges. Your doctor can advise you on what would be best for you.
- First aid equipment such as a thermometer and an oximeter will help you gauge how unwell you are each day.
Be Clean - with a couple of short-cuts
- Household supplies such as biodegradable disposable plates, cups and cutlery, tissues (and rubbish bags to put these used items directly into) will reduce the amount of infectious material in your home, and the amount of cleaning you need to do
- Have plenty of cleaning supplies. If someone is sick, regularly empty the rubbish and wipe down things that get touched a lot (like doorknobs, phones, and handles).
- Get plenty of hand soap. Using soap and water to wash hands when staying home is best. You can use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available. Safely store hand sanitizer and cleaning products out of reach of children.
Mask-up
Masks are important for going out but they can also help stop the spread of COVID-19 at home. Indoors, anyone who is sick should wear a mask when around others to prevent spreading the virus. Other household members should wear a mask when around the sick person.
Make your emergency contacts clear
Have a list on the fridge of who to call if you need support. If you have children, make sure they understand who to call as well. The list of contacts should include:
- triple-zero for emergencies
- your general practice clinic
- COVID-19 Hotline 1800 675 398
- Family or friends who can drop around supplies
Tell a friend
Make sure someone you can rely on knows about your situation. Don't have physical contact with them, but if they offer to drop off supplies then accept the offer - we are all in this together.
